Discover Ipolytarnóc

The Ipolytarnóci Ősmaradványok Nature Reserve is located near Ipolytarnóc. The geological Borókás-árok trail is 800 metres long and can be visited during opening hours for an admission fee and with a guide. The biological trail is six kilometres long in total; the freely accessible Kőzetpark covers 700 metres.

The reserve's visitor attractions also include the Miocene Forest, the Rock Park, Kőszikla, biological trails and picnic areas. The exhibition “Idősíkok találkozása – Az Ipolytarnóci Ősmaradványok múltja” explores the area's research history and excavations, which have continued from the 1830s to the present day.

On the Borókás-árok trail, groups can examine outcrops of glauconitic sandstone formed 24 million years ago, for an admission fee and with an expert guide. The contact zone between the sandstone and the overlying volcanic rocks is also covered. Opening hours and the guided tour on offer are relevant when planning your visit; check the latest operating details before travelling.

The reserve's most important fossils include shark teeth, petrified trees, leaf impressions and traces of prehistoric animals. A 46-metre-long petrified tree trunk, Pinuxylon tarnocziense, is housed in a protective shelter; Ferenc Kubinyi discovered it in 1838. Another protected building displays the petrified surface of a Miocene riverbank that served as a watering place and ford. Preserved footprints are from even-toed ungulates, predators, prehistoric rhinoceroses and birds.

Trail lengths offer a useful starting point for choosing: the geological Borókás-árok trail is 800 metres long, the Kőzetpark is 700 metres, and the biological trail is six kilometres. The Kőzetpark is freely accessible. Check current trail conditions before your visit; the Borókás-árok trail is subject to opening hours, an admission fee and a guided tour.

The biological trail starts at the ticket office of the nature reserve and visitor centre, next to the Kutatóház. The two connecting trails share a steeply uphill 500-metre section at the beginning, which is their most difficult part. The biological trail focuses on plants and animals in remnants of former oak and hornbeam forests, as well as in pastures created after the forests were cleared. This route therefore has a different focus from the geological guided tour.

Next to the Lombkorona Café and Restaurant is a playground with areas for different age groups. Toddlers have a sandbox and a crawling tunnel. Kindergarten and primary school children can enjoy spring riders, seesaws and swings, as well as a slide; older children have access to skill games and a fort. The same rule applies to the entire playground: anyone weighing more than 60 kilograms may not use it.

The Ősfenyő admission package lets children test their knowledge through educational games at interactive touchscreen information terminals. Some facility details may change, so it is advisable to check what is currently available before your visit. Along with the fossils and geological exhibition, this provides another interactive way to explore the area.

Discover more destinations: Bárna, Cered, Salgótarján, Karancsalja, Somoskőújfalu, Egyházasgerge.

What can groups see on the Borókás-árok trail?

With an expert guide, groups can examine outcrops of 24-million-year-old glauconitic sandstone and the contact zone with the overlying volcanic rocks. The 800-metre-long trail is accessible during opening hours for an admission fee; check the latest operating details in advance.

How long is the biological trail?

The trail is six kilometres long in total. Its first section, shared with the connecting trail, is 500 metres long, steeply uphill and the most difficult part.

What are the playground rules?

The play areas are described as suitable for toddlers, kindergarten and primary school children, and older children. Anyone weighing more than 60 kilograms may not use the playground.

See the broader travel overview: Salgótarjáni.